FST’s second Summer Cabaret production exposes the mastery used in tricks by con artists from Vegas to your neighborhood casinos

(Sarasota, FL) —FST’s second Summer Cabaret production exposes the mastery used in tricks by con artists from Vegas to your neighborhood casinos. Jason Michaels rolls up his own sleeves and shows how NOT to be deceived by a dealer’s deck. The Card Shark runs from July 19 to August 21 in the Court Cabaret. Single tickets range from $32-$36 and may be purchased by visiting us online at floridastudiotheatre.org or by calling the box office at (941) 366-9000.

The CardShark is a live, interactive, sleight-of-hand show. Jason Michaels will pull back the curtain on how he can amaze and deceive, as audiences dive deeply into the art of illusion. Having spent time in casinos from Las Vegas to Atlantic City, he highlights the skills he uses to eliminate the advantage that casinos typically have. Getting swindled has never been this much fun. NBC calls Michaels “Incredible” and “Fabulous.” The Tennessean says “Jason Michaels performs impossible feats with a deck of cards.”

Having studied sleight-of-hand technique for over twenty-four years, Michaels speaks to the audience impact of this unique art form. ”Seeing a sleight-of-hand artist isn’t something that most people experience in their day to day life,” said Michaels. “I love the fact that they remember the experience for so long. I’ve had people tell me stories about a sleight-of-hand expert they saw perform thirty years ago and they still remember exactly what he did for them. That’s very rare and very special.”

Filled with storytelling and surprises, this intriguing and magical show is suitable for all ages. Audience members play a large part in this show itself, ready to jump on stage and learn a thing or two about how not to be conned. Michaels elaborates further on his passion for this distinct type of deception stating, “I think that when we have an amazing experience that we can’t explain or even fathom it opens our minds up to the idea that maybe we are more capable of doing things in our own lives that we might have originally thought couldn’t be done. That is what I try to do every time I step in front of an audience. As a motivational speaker I draw from my experiences in life and in magic to show people that we are capable of doing things in our lives that may initially feel impossible to us. I think when people see and experience the art of sleight of hand our minds start to realize that we are capable of accomplishing some really incredible things in our lives.”

Michaels enjoys performing for both artistic, cultured audiences as well as highly intelligent, analytical crowds. He has entertained VIPs including Martina McBride, Kix Brooks, Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes, Rodney Atkins, Derrick Mason, and more. Michaels has also shared his style of interactive sleight-of-hand and humor with corporate audiences, universities, and for private social affairs all over the world, including Nashville, Chicago, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Orlando, the Caribbean, Shanghai, Beijing, and London.

The CardShark gives audiences a closer look at the illusion behind the trick. The Card Shark runs from July 19 to August 21in the Court Cabaret. Single tickets range from $32-$36 and may be purchased by visiting us online at floridastudiotheatre.org or by calling the box office at (941) 366-9000.

About Florida Studio Theatre

Known as Sarasota’s Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by artist Jon Spelman. Starting out as a small touring company, FST traveled to places such as migrant camps and prisons. The company then acquired the former Woman’s Club building, becoming the first permanent venue. Shortly after Producing Artistic Director, Richard Hopkins arrived, the building was purchased and renamed The Keating Theatre. In the years that followed, Florida Studio Theatre established itself as a major force in American Theatre, presenting contemporary theatre in its five theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Gompertz Theatre, the Parisian style Goldstein Cabaret and John C. Court Cabaret, and Bowne’s Lab Theatre.

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. FST develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dynamically changing world. As FST grows and expands, it continues to provide audiences with challenging, contemporary drama and innovative programs.